Chapter 211: Woven Truths
Without saying a word, Cillian simply started the engine again before pulling the car back onto the road towards the Vanderbilt Estate.
The remainder of the journey passed in a heavy silence.
This time, it was Aliana who kept stealing glances at Gavriel, but he kept his gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside, and she knew he was upset with her.
Her chest felt tight, but she bit back her emotions and maintained a strong facade.
Soon, the car came to a halt at the driveway of the Vanderbilt Estate.
Looking out, she saw her parents already waiting at the entrance, their faces beaming with happiness to see their daughter again. Her eyes softened at the sight of them.
She turned to look at Gavriel, but he was already stepping out of the car to make his way to her side and open her door.
Cillian had also stepped outside to greet her parents, making a conscious effort to give the couple a final moment of privacy.
Aliana’s eyes met Gavriel’s cold ones as he extended his hand toward her.
Swallowing the tight lump in her throat, she placed her hand in his and stepped out of the vehicle without breaking eye contact.
They did not say anything for a few seconds until Gavriel leaned down close to her ear and whispered, "Be good. Don’t break your promise."
When he pulled back to look into her eyes. When she gave him a silent nod, he finally stepped back and let go of her hand. It was a physical release that she instinctively wanted to cling to, yet she forced herself to hold back.
Then, without another word, Gavriel turned around to greet Alester and Portia. They insisted that he and Cillian stay for dinner, as it was already five in the evening. But Gavriel politely declined, explaining that he had urgent work to take care of.
Understanding his other commitments, they did not press the matter. They moved forward to give Aliana a warm hug, standing close by her side as they watched the two men make their way back to the car.
With each step Gavriel took away from her, Aliana felt a sharp sting in her heart.
When Gavriel opened the car door to get inside, he gazed back at her one last time. She felt her heart thud violently against her ribs, but the moment lasted only a second before he slipped into the seat, and the vehicle drove away from the property.
She did not even realise she was still standing on the driveway, even when the car was nowhere in sight. And she was brought back to reality only when Portia’s voice reached her.
"Ali, let’s get you inside. I am sure you must be hungry."
Aliana turned her eyes toward her mother, who offered her a warm, comforting smile.
"Your mother had all of your favourites prepared," Alester added gently.
A small smile touched Aliana’s lips at her parents’ thoughtful consideration. Yet, when her gaze drifted back to the now-empty driveway, a sudden, inexplicable ache washed over her. It felt as though her very heart had been ripped away from her the moment he vanished.
Releasing a quiet sigh, she let her parents usher her inside the comfort of the mansion.
.....
During dinner, Aliana made a conscious effort to be as mentally present as possible, replying to her parents whenever they asked her questions about the wedding or Gavriel.
The food was tasteless to her since she had absolutely no appetite, but simply to keep her parents happy, she forced herself to eat as much as she could manage.
Portia and Alester, however, easily noticed the sudden quiet behaviour of their daughter.
They could see that the witty, confident woman they had raised was nowhere in sight. This deeply worried them, leaving them to wonder what could be the underlying cause behind her distance.
Exchanging quiet glances with each other, Portia finally spoke up. "Ali?"
"Hm?" Aliana looked up from her plate to meet her mother’s green eyes.
"Is... everything okay?" Portia asked softly.
Aliana looked at her mother before turning her gaze to her father, only to see the worry clouding both of their expressions. She realised then that they had noticed her slip.
Mustering a small smile, Aliana replied, "Everything is fine, Mom."
She could clearly see that they did not look convinced at all. She knew that if she did not come up with a plausible explanation, the questions would keep coming.
They would ask about things she did not even know how to answer.
So, she offered a different truth. "Actually, I am just a little tired after my long trip."
"A trip? Where?" Alester asked, his brows rising in curiosity.
"Yes, Gavriel surprised me by taking me to Aria. Remember how much I always wanted to go there?" Aliana responded smoothly.
"Oh my, so he took you to Aria?" Portia’s eyes lit up as she pressed a hand over her heart. "How romantic! How was it?"
Aliana smiled warmly this time. "The place was just as beautiful as I had imagined."
"When did you leave and come back?" Alester asked, his practical nature taking over. "And how did you both decide to go now, when the wedding is right around the corner?"
Aliana knew her father was always sharp, so she quickly wove another lie together with the truth.
"Actually, he wanted to show me one of his properties there and give it to me as a gift. We only went for two days and returned today. In fact, I have just come straight from the airport."
"A property? What kind?" Alester’s interest piqued immediately, given his passion for investing in real estate.
Aliana felt terrible for lying.
Even though Gavriel had told her that the beautiful estate belonged to her as well, she still felt a deep pang of guilt for using it as an excuse just to stop her parents from asking further questions.
"It was beautiful, Dad. It is a glass house surrounded by a lake and snow-covered mountains." She focused on the nature surrounding the property as she spoke, unable to shake a profound sense of regret for not being able to spend enough time there.
Her parents caught the genuine emotion on Aliana’s face as she described the place, and they smiled affectionately.
"Well, that sounds wonderful! Honey, we should also plan a visit to Aria soon. How about after the wedding?" Portia asked her husband, growing excited.
Just as Alester was about to agree, Aliana abruptly interjected, "No!"
The sudden outburst made both of her parents look at her in utter confusion. Together, they asked, "Why?"
Realising her voice had come out much louder than intended, Aliana quickly backtracked.
"Because the weather is too harsh there right now. It is just not a good time. Even Gavriel and I decided to come back early so we could visit later when the climate is more bearable."
Alester’s brows pulled together in mild amusement. "Of course it is cold there, honey. It is situated in a region where that kind of weather is permanent."
’Fuck! I forgot about that!’ Aliana cursed herself silently for the blunder. Geographically, the area was perpetually covered in snow.
But she needed to stop her parents from visiting anytime soon because of the strange disappearances that had been happening there, and the fact that one of those missing people had turned into that terrifying creature sent a shiver down her spine. If anything happened to her parents, she would be devastated.
No! She had to stop them.
"What I mean is... we didn’t realise how stormy it was right now. This isn’t a good time to visit."
When they simply continued to stare at her, she quickly added, "Gav and I almost got caught in the storm, and even on our way back, our aircraft was caught right in the middle of it. I think summertime would be the best time to visit. You both should plan the trip then."
Aliana quickly came up with the explanation and silently prayed with all her heart that her parents would agree because she knew they could be incredibly adventurous. If they decided to fly to a different continent on a whim, they absolutely would.
Portia absorbed the explanation before lightly touching her own cheek. "Maybe you are right. Ah, my skin would suffer so much in that dry cold. Fine, we can choose somewhere warmer instead!"
Alester looked at his wife and hummed affectionately. "Whatever you wish for, dear."
Portia beamed, and Aliana finally released the breath she did not realise she had been holding.
Right then, her mother spoke up again. "Oh my, I totally forgot to tell you! Some of our close friends and family will be coming over for a small dinner tomorrow evening, since your wedding is the day after. I forgot to inform our dear son-in-law about the gathering! I should go make a quick call to him!"
Aliana’s brows pulled together at the news. She watched her mother excuse herself from the dining table before turning her gaze to her father, who said something... that jolted her heart.